Mobile knock-down display rack



Dec. 22, 1959 w. P. MILNER MOBILE KNOCK-DOWN DISPLAY RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 27, 1957 INVENITOR W. P MILNER ATTORNEYS Dec. 22, 1959 w. P. MILNER 2,918,295

MOBILE xuocx-nowu DISPLAY RACK Filed March 27, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W. R MILNER FIGJO QRHEYS United States Patentf) MOBILEKNOGK-DOWN DISPLAY RACK William P. Milner, Chattanooga, Tenn., assignor to American'Manufacturing Company, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Application March '27, 1957, Serial No. 648,957

4 Claims." (Cl. 280-36) This invention relates" to the'nierchandisingof com modities, to the equipment employed, and is particularly concerned with the salefof beverages in bottles and the" like and the placingof tliesarne on display in order "to attract attention, to stimulate'interes't'in the pr'o'duct'an'd td cause the purchase "of the "samel r The invention relates particularly to'display stands or racks, for supporting and displaying bottles and articles" of all kinds, which racks'are collapsible and ordinarily and the manufacture of the same 'has been excessivein' the amount of time required and in cost.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the"disadvantages' enumerate'd and to provide a mobile knock down display rack comprising a base or dolly and an upright side, rear and back frame unit which can be knocked down 'flat,'takin'g the lowest possible freightrate in its class, as wellas' "adevice of this character which is inexpensive and simple to manufacture, easylto assemble with onlytwo push nuts and with plug-in type casters, and with minimum forwardly exposed ro'd'ends.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple method of producing a mobile knock-down display rackwhich ca'nbe 'cornpactlypackaged for storage and shipment and involving minimum'material and labor'in its manufacture as well as in "setin'g up'and taking down the device.

Other objects andadvantages of the invention will; be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective illustrating one aspect of the invention;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary detail on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a layout of the components employed in the production of the base frame;

Fig. 4 illustrates the frame strip with openings, which is the first step in producing the base frame;

Fig. 5 illustrates the second step in which the end portions of the side members are offset relative to each other;

Fig. 6 illustrates the next step, namely, the adding of the axle with the wheels and plug-in caster brackets;

Fig. 7 illustrates the next step which is bending of the secondary base frame;

Fig. 8 discloses the next step which includes the addition of the longitudinal supports and base strips to the secondary base frame;

Fig. 9, the manner of combining the primary and secondary base frames;

Figs. 10, 11 and 12, are perspectives of the back and two side frames respectively.

Briefly stated the invention comprises a base and wall units, said base being composed of a U-shaped strip or primary frame having openings in which are received an axle to which wheels are attached and a pair of cross 2 strips which form a partof a secondary base frame independently producedand welded or otherwise attached to the base frame. The wallunits includes a back and pair of side frames hinged thereto, the back beingof sub-' stantially the same width-as the base frame and withthe side frames provided with angular feet which are insertedin the sides of the primary frame and are secured therein by the application of push nuts with the feet at the front ends of the side members.

With continued reference to the drawings; the base dolly and upright side and back frame units are fabri- In manufacturing the base or dollya single strip 10 is simultaneously cut to the" desired it length and punched to providethe necessary openings. Thereafter this strip is bent to U-shape; as showninFig. 4,;and then the central portion -10 of eachlegof the U s is shaped to provide lower offset portions at the remote; ends of the legs of the "U-shaped member, asshown in cated separately.

Fig. 5.

The strip 10 is provided with a pair of openingsll, a pair of slots 12, a pairof slightly longer slots 13, and a pair of end openings 14 forreceiving respectively the rear ends of the side frames, the rear -cross-member' of the secondary dolly frame, the forward cross-member of the secondaryzdolly "frame and the forward body end of the side frames, and the 'roller supporting-axle.

After the strip 10 is given its'final shapingit may have;

plug-in caster brackets 15 applied one on each side although the caster-brackets 15 maybe applied after-the assembly of the -rack--is-completed. I An axle 16 is inserted in the openings 14, and is provided with wheels-17 secured in place by push nuts l8 -(note Figs.6 and 9).

A frame rod 20 and a series -of, for example; five intermediate rods or bars 21 -are cutto length, as are also a couple of transverse bars 22-a nd 23. Thereafter the" rod 20 isbent to U"-shape (Fig. 7) and is 'assembled with the rods 21 and bars 22 and 23 (FigmS) and'welded to provide a complete unit. The bars22 'and 23 are identh cal except that the frontrod 23 is provided with a rear primary frame formed of the strip 10, sothatthe reduced ends ofthe har -22 are=disposed-in the slots 12 and-the laterally turned ends 24 of the-bar 23 areinserte'd'through the slots 13 of the strip 10. Then the sub-frame of the elements 20, 21, 22 and 23 is pushed rearwardly in the U-shaped member formed from the bar 1.0, as shown in Fig. 9, and a weld is placed where the bars 20 and 21 cross the connecting portion of the U-shaped member 10 of the primary frame. The base or dolly is then complete except for the addition of the casters 19. 1

In the manufacture of the pair of side frames lengths of wire or rod stock are cut to form the longitudinal, transverse, and diagonal braces which combine to form the side frames. One of the lengths 25 of wire or rod stock is bent to U-shape with lateral feet or extremities 26 and 26. Transverse wires 27 have curved ends 28 for encircling the side rod of the back frame, and the rods 29 are bent to provide diagonal braces. The parts are assembled and are welded together. The opposite side frame is produced in similar manner except that the parts forming the opposed side frames are assembled so that they will be in the proper position when placed one in front of the other.

The back frame is fabricated in a similar manner. It comprises a pair of side members 30 having a series of cross members 31, all of which are cut to the proper length, assembled, and welded. In applying the side and back frames to the dolly which forms the base of the rack, the feet 26 at each side adjacent to the back are inserted in the openings 11 and the feet 26' are inserted in the Patented Dec. 22, .1959- knobs '33 may be placed on top of the sidemembers 30.

What is claimed is: I v 1. A mobile knockdown rack comprising separable base and wall units said base unit comprising a U-shaped frame including two legs and a connecting member, a

second U-shaped frame comprising two legs and a connecting member, cross members on said second frame, a series of supporting members disposed lengthwise of said second frame and joined to the connecting member of said second frame and to said cross bars, said first U-shaped frame having aligned longitudinally spaced transverse apertures in its legs, said cross members having end portions received within certain of said aligned apertures, said second frame overlying the connecting mem ber of said first frame and secured thereto, said wall units comprising pivotally connected back and side portions, said'side portions having angular foot portions receivable in other of the apertures in the legs of said first U-shaped frame, means detachably securing the foot of each side portion in other apertures of said legs to hold the base and wall units in assembled relation for providing a space opening toward said connecting members, and anti-friction means on said base for facilitating ready movement of said rack.

2. A mobile knock-down rack comprising separable base and upright units, said base unit comprising larger and smaller substantially U-shaped frames each including spaced legs and a connecting portion, cross members on said smaller frame, a series of supporting members disposed lengthwise and joined to the connecting portion of said smaller frame and to said cross members, the larger frame having longitudinally spaced apertures in its legs with the apertures in one leg opposite those in the other leg, said cross members having end portions received within certain of said oppositely located apertures and said smaller frame overlying the connecting portion of the larger frame, said upright units comprising pivotally connected back and side portions, the latter having angular foot portions receivable in other of the apertures in the legs of said larger frame, attaching means detachably securing a foot of each of the side portions of said frame in certain of said apertures to hold the base and upright units in assembled relation providing a spaced opening toward said connecting members, and anti-friction means attached to said base for facilitating ready movement of said rack from place to place.

3. A mobile knock-down rack comprising separable base and upright units, said base unit comprising larger and smaller substantially U-shaped frames each including spaced legs and a connecting portion, cross members on said smaller frame, a series of supporting members disposed lengthwise and joined to the connecting portion of said smaller frame and to said cross members, the larger frame having longitudinally spaced apertures in its legs with the apertures in one leg opposite those in'the other leg, said cross members having end portions received within certain of said oppositely located apertures and said smaller frame overlying the connecting portion of the larger frame, said upright units comprising pivotally connected back and side portions, the latter having angular foot portions interlockingly receivable in other of the apertures in the legs of said larger frame, and antifriction means attached to said base for faciliating ready movement of said rack from place to place.

4. A mobile knock-down rack comprising separable base and upright units, said base unit comprising a substantially U-shaped frame including a pair of spaced legs and a connecting portion, a supporting member connected to said'frame and extending transversely of the legs, said frame having longitudinally spaced openings in its legs, said'uprig'ht unit comprising a back frame and a pair of side portions with said pair of side portions each pivotally connected to said back frame at adjacent edge portions, the pair of side portions each having foot portions along the lower edge receivable respectively in theopenings of' the legs of the U-shaped frame in interlocking, separable relation, and anitfriction means attached to said base for facilitating ready movement of said rack from place to place.

References Cited in the file. of; this patent; UNITED STATES PATENTS 

